Sonoma and Napa Valley: Why You Should Visit Wine Country with the Kids

Parents tend to write off the idea of a vacation in California’s wine country unless they can leave the kids at home, but there’s plenty for families to do here, too. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Parents tend to write off the idea of a vacation in California’s wine country unless they can leave the kids at home, but there’s plenty for families to do here, too. From September until the end of October is first crush, when the grapes are being harvested and crushed. This is the most active time of year at the vineyards, and there’s plenty for kids to see. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Fall Harvest at a Winery

Take the time to call a few wineries in advance and find one where you’ll see the fall harvest in action on the day of your visit. While you’re on the phone, ask what activities or accommodations are available for kids. Here are a few particularly kid-friendly options: At Sterling Vineyards, you’ll ride an aerial tram up to the winery, and a self-guided tour lets you visit the winery at whatever pace your children allow. At the Benziger Family Winery, a tram takes you out into the vineyards where you can see all the fall activity.

Playground Fantastico

Playground Fantastico is a community-built adventure playground featuring castles, a rocket ship, granite geysers, places to experiment with sound, and more. Thanks to separate areas for different age groups, this huge playspace lends itself well to kids from toddler age up until about age 11._ Old Sonoma Road and Freeway Drive, Napa_

Sonoma Train Town

Train town reminds me of the small, locally owned amusement parks that were common when I was a child. Most of them are gone now, but Train Town, where families can ride a quarter-size train along an obsessively accurate model railroad through a ten-acre park is still hanging on. There are six other rides, including a Ferris wheel and merry-go-round. This is the perfect size to stop in for an hour or two for a totally kid-centered activity.

Bouchon Bakery

Your kids probably won’t make it through a meal at one of Thomas Keller’s restaurants in Yountville, but you can still taste his magic at Bouchon Bakery. Take-away sandwiches, salads, and locally sourced cheeses make a fantastic picnic, and you’ll have an almost impossible time limiting yourself to one dessert per person. Pick up an extra pastry or two and save it for a grownups-only dessert-and-wine hour after the kids are in bed for the night.

Old Faithful Geyser of California

Even if you’ve been to the Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park, this smaller geyser is worth a visit with kids. Located in a small, privately owned, park it erupts about every 30 minutes and spews steam and scalding water 60 to 100 feet in the air. When the kids get bored of watching nature’s dramatic show, there’s also a small petting zoo where they can feed Tennessee fainting goats, four-horned Jacob sheep, and guard llamas.